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Murder Charges Planned in Beating Death of Gay Student
Shepard died while on full life support
Contributed by Stef Matthews
via CNN Web posted at: 9:01 p.m. EDT (0101 GMT)
October 12, 1998
FORT COLLINS, Colorado (CNN) -- Authorities plan to file murder charges in Monday's death of Matthew Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student who was pistol-whipped and tied to a fence post five days ago in an attack denounced nationwide as a hate crime.
Shepard, 21, died from his injuries early Monday morning without regaining consciousness. He had been on full life support, Rulon Stacey, the chief executive officer of Poudre Valley Hospital, told reporters.
Shepard had been in a coma since bicyclists found him about 12 hours after he was tethered to the post in near-freezing temperatures outside Laramie, Wyoming, on Wednesday.
Four suspects were being held on a variety of charges. Aaron James McKinney, 22, and Russell Arthur Henderson, 21, both of Laramie, have been charged with attempted first degree murder, kidnapping and aggravated robbery by Albany County, Wyoming District Attorney Cal Rerucha.
The charges will be upgraded to first degree murder now that Shepard has died, said Sgt. Rob DeBree of the Albany County Sheriff's Office. Authorities also are expected to stiffen kidnapping charges against the two men.
The two men's girlfriends -- Chasity Vera Pasley, 20, and Kristen Leann Price, 18 -- were charged with being accessories after the fact.
Believe Drag is Bullet Proof
Fighters Dressed As Women Ambush Rebels
Contributed by Stef Matthews
via Associated Press
October 7, 1998
Kenema, Sierra Leone -- Government-allied fighters clad in dresses
and women's wigs ambushed barefooted rebels in densely forested eastern
Sierra Leone, killing at least 52 renegades and wounding many others,
militia officers said Tuesday.
Kamajor soldiers laid a trap for the rebels late Monday on a road near
Mandekelema village, 30 miles from the Liberian border, staff officer
Francis Silikie said.
The Kamajors, volunteer fighters ranging in age from 8 to 60, have
declared a "patriotic war" against the rebels in this west African
country. Dozens of Kamajor battalions have begun massing at headquarters
in the eastern town of Kenema for a collective drive against the rebels.
The rebel group Revolutionary United Front began an insurgency in 1991 and
last year allied itself with a military junta that overthrew Sierra
Leone's elected leader. When the junta was toppled in February, the rebels
and ousted coup soldiers began a brutal campaign, torturing, mutilating
and killing civilians.
Although the government has said it cannot afford to pay the Kamajors, who
believe they are made impervious to bullets by wearing women's clothing
and magic fetishes, the traditional fighters are popular in many
communities, which provide the food, money and weapons in return for
protection.
Artist's Rendering of Battle Preparations:

Stiletto Heel Inventor Dies
Contributed by Rachelle Austin
via News Planet
September 26, 1998
Roger Vivier, the openly gay man who invented the stiletto heel, died October 2 in
Toulouse at the age of 90, according to "Le Monde."
His designs dominated women's shoes from the 1930's through the 1960's, although he'd designed a plastic sandal for a downscale French chain as recently as last year. Vivier designed for Bally, Schiaparelli, Christian Dior, Pierre Balmain, Guy Laroche, and Yves
Saint-Laurent, among other leading designers, and for celebrity clients including Marlene Dietrich, Sophia
Loren and Elizabeth Taylor. He created the shoes Queen Elizabeth wore at her coronation in 1953.
Vivier is survived by Gerard Benoit-Vivier, the partner he legally adopted -- once a fairly
common method for same-gender couples to obtain legal recognition, but now no longer possible most
places.
RuPaul Show Cancelled
Contributed by Rachelle Austin
via News Planet
October 9, 1998
RuPaul, the cross-dressing supermodel/singer, has lost his show on VH1, according to the
"New York Post." The talkshow went on the air October 12, 1996 and passed the 100 episode mark as
its second season ended last month. When RuPaul signed with VH1 in June 1997, it was reportedly a
three-year contract. VH1 has said only that there are no plans for new production but that it will
continue to air repeats.
RuPaul spokesperson Randy Barbado said, "RuPaul loves TV and RuPaul loves VH1. And
if RuPaul doesn't continue to be on VH1, you'll find him elsewhere. The Queen was built for
television and if she doesn't continue there, just wait a few minutes and you'll find her someplace else."
In addition to any future television deals, "someplace else" is likely to be gay and lesbian
pride events (which this past year included appearances at South Carolina Pride in Myrtle Beach and in
Orlando, Florida for Gay Day at DisneyWorld) and print ads, which the diva has done for MAC cosmetics, NEC
computers, and -- in standard male garb -- for Rockport shoes.
Judy, Move Over
Contributed by Elizabeth Parker
via Reuters
October 9, 1998
Filmmaker Tim Burton has signed a deal to executive produce
"Lost in Oz," a syndicated TV series derived from the works
of "Wizard of Oz" author L. Frank Baum. Variety reports that
creative details are sketchy, as the big-budget project is
in the early stages of development. The live-action drama
will revolve around the lesser-known characters and stories
featured in the 40-plus "Oz" titles penned by Baum. Columbia
TriStar says the series is tentatively targeted for a fall
1999 bow, but the timing will hinge on the extent of
production and special effects.
TG folks will recall that the book "The Land of Oz" featured Princess Ozma transformed
into a boy for most of the book.
Chemicals in Toiletries May Be Harmful, Study Says
Contributed by Jami Ward
via Reuters
October 7, 1998
LONDON - British scientists have identified
chemicals used in toiletries that mimic the effects of
oestrogen, the female hormone that has been linked to a drop in
sperm count and an increase in breast and testicular cancers.
The compounds have been widely used in cosmetics and
toiletries for decades.
Professor John Sumpter of Brunel University in London said
it is the first time the chemicals have been reported to be
oestrogenic, but he did not know if the substances were harmful
to humans.
``That's what we need to find out,'' Sumpter told Reuters on
Wednesday. ``At the moment we have no evidence that will link
those chemicals with any adverse effects in humans but I think
we need more research.''
The chemicals, which have been approved for use in
preservatives known as parabens in toiletries, are found in
thousands of products ranging from sunblocks and cosmetics to
baby creams. They prevent the products from spoiling but are
also responsible for causing allergic reactions such as skin
rashes, swelling and itching.
Sumpter and his colleagues found that when the substances
were injected under the skin of animals in laboratory studies
they caused adverse reactions.
Their research will be published in the next issue of the
journal, Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology.
Scientists believe hormone disrupting compounds, also known
as gender-bending chemicals or endocrine disruptors, that are
used in plastics, pesticides and detergents can disrupt
biochemical pathways and natural hormones in the body, causing
birth defects and damage to wildlife.
Exposure to the chemicals has also been linked to an
increase in certain cancers, a dramatic drop in sperm counts and
impaired sexual development.
``It's a hypothesis and no more. It's a powerful hypothesis
but at the moment it is not supported by data,'' said Sumpter.
The expert on oestrogen chemicals said scientists did not
know which chemicals they should be most concerned about.
``What we're saying is: here is a new group of chemicals
that are weak oestrogens. There is (human) exposure to them. It
is well documented. We do not know whether that will have any
adverse effect but we think it might be wise to have a look.''
The British study coincides with plans announced on Monday
by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to identify
and charaterise man-made chemicals that mimic oestrogen.
The EPA said it plans to initially screen 15,000 chemicals
in the programme that it hopes to formally propose by the end of
the year.
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